City gets clean audit report

“I’m glad to hear some good news,” Mayor Emery Doughtie said following the audit presentation Tuesday night by Gregory Redman, a Tarboro CPA.

Redman presented the city an unmodified audit which contained no exceptions or material weaknesses in the city’s internal controls. The report, which covered the fiscal year ending last June, identified no significant deficiencies, Redman said.

There were no weaknesses, exceptions or noncompliant financial statements in accounting for state programs, he said.

Redman commended the city for its 98.99 percent tax collection rate. “That’s how the town operates by these collections.”

The city exceeded its liabilities at the close of the fiscal year by $4,928,888, according to the management discussion and analysis portion of the audit. “As of close of the fiscal year, the (city’s) governmental funds reported combined ending fund balances of $5,106,884 with a net decrease of $2,495,234 in fund balance.”

Approximately 75 percent of the total amount — $3,86,501 is available for spending at the government’s discretion. “At the end of the current fiscal year, unreserved fund balance for the general fund was $3,731,531 or 24 percent of total general fund expenditures budgeted for the 2018 fiscal year.”

The audit accounts for money the city set aside for the refinancing of its theater debt.

City Manager Joseph Scherer said the fourth straight clean audit is a testament to the work of Finance Director Leigh Etheridge and her staff.

Said Doughtie: “I think we as a city and department heads do a very good job with the services we do and the revenues we have. A lot of volunteers and businesses help us. I think we do a good job with (the revenues) we have to work with.”

Interstate 95-Highway 158 improvements

In another matter Tuesday, council passed a resolution in support of improvements at the I-95 and Highway 158 intersection by the state Department of Transportation.

Public Works Director Larry Chalker told council the work at the 173 exit would create two turning lanes on Highway 158 to the northbound lane of I-95, an area which experiences backups under the current configuration. The project would also include sidewalks.

Chief Chuck Hasty recognized Officer Daniel Hundley for being awarded the Advanced Law Enforcement Certificate from the North Carolina Training and Standards Commission.

He also recognized Captain Bobby Martin with a certificate for going above and beyond the call of duty to help a Governor’s Crime Commission employee who became ill when traveling for work in the area.

Tim Hinnant, deputy director of the commission, told council Martin not only helped the employee but kept him and family informed of the situation. “Captain Martin is an ambassador of Roanoke Rapids.”

Leah Brewer, owner of Elle, a therapy dog, presented the police department with a photo collage commemorating the bond and relationship between her, her dog and the police department.